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A dental office is a busy place. Patients are going in and out of exam rooms. Dentists, hygienists, and assistants are moving throughout. This constant movement along with the design of the dental exam rooms can pose a problem for many dental offices when it comes time to plan for proper medical waste management. For example, containers need to be close by for easy disposal while also out of the reach of patients, especially children.

Here are the four most common types of biomedical waste in a dental practice and how ManageMed biomedical waste disposal services can help with waste management solutions.

1. SHARPSOne of the main reasons some people fear going to the dentist is due to their fear of needles. Sharps are used on a regular basis in dental offices for a variety of reasons. Many times needles are used for local anesthetic purposes or to draw blood from a patient who may be undergoing oral surgery.

Because of the potential risks associated with sharps, they should always be placed in a clearly labeled sharps container. ManageMed provides red biohazard sharps containers that are puncture resistant and leak proof. Not only does this help keep your staff safe, but it also prevents accidents, protects your patients, and helps make the overall medical waste pickup and removal easier.

2. BLOOD SOAKED PRODUCTSThere are many dental treatments resulting in blood soaked products such as gauze. Blood soaked gauze is a bio-hazardous material that may also be considered a bloodborne pathological waste product. Either way, blood soaked products should be thrown away in a designated area such as leak proof and puncture resistant red biohazard bag or a clearly marked biohazard container.

ManageMed can help you decide what size red waste bags and containers you will need based on the flow of your business. This will help your practice stay compliant and save money in the long run.

3. MERCURY AMALGAMS, SILVER WASTE, LEAD WASTESince mercury amalgams contain mercury, they must never be thrown in the trash, down the drain, or even in a red medical waste container. In fact, there are specific regulations surrounding the disposal of this highly toxic element such as using amalgam separators to catch as much mercury as possible.

In addition to mercury, there are still some dental practices which have to worry about silver waste. If your practice hasn’t been able to upgrade to digital x-ray technology, then chances are high that silver fixer is still being used. Silver fixer should never be washed down the drain. Silver waste product can be collected and disposed of by a professional biomedical waste company such as ManageMed.

And if your practice uses any products containing lead such as lead aprons, then it is very important to dispose of the lead products properly when needed. ManageMed offers OSHA online training and can work with your staff to provide proper biomedical waste disposal training and biomedical waste solutions for your overall practice.

4. CHEMICALS AND STERILIZATION PRODUCTSAlthough it may not be clear, many chemicals and sterilization products used in facilities such as dentist offices can be harmful to the environment, your staff, and your patients. Since some chemicals are considered hazardous, learn as much as you can and follow all federal guidelines and regulations. If you have questions regarding the types of chemicals used in your practice and want to know how to dispose of them properly, you can call ManageMed. Our professional team is here to help when you need it.

LET MANAGEMED CREATE BIOMEDICAL WASTE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR PRACTICEWhether you are a dentist office in Asheville, North Carolina, a vet clinic in California, or an Urgent Care Clinic in Little Rock, Arkansas, ManageMed can help you create a biomedical waste plan that will save you time, money, and a little sanity when it comes to dealing with state and federal regulated medical waste disposal.

Do you have a trusted company for biomedical waste pick-up and disposal? Give us a call at 844-383-8933 to learn more about ManageMed and our biomedical waste disposal process and biomedical waste management services.